Chennai: Doctors at Fortis Malar Hospital successfully implanted the state-of-the-art Leadless pacemaker on a 75-year-old patient recently. The device is the smallest and lightest pacemaker in the world. The patient wasadmitted to the hospital with a complete heart block along with complaints of excessive tiredness. Dr E Babu, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Fortis Malar Hospital performed the successful procedure.
The patient had earlier undergone coronary angioplasty stenting for which he has been prescribed antiplatelet blood-thinner therapy. A diagnosis revealed that his heart had third-degree Atrioventricular block and the heart rate had dropped to 40 beats per minute. In view of the patients’ age, previous surgery and the current pandemic, a Leadless Permanent Pacemaker was implanted without interrupting his blood-thinner medication and he was discharged within 24 hours after the procedure.
Having performed the highest number of Leadless Pacemaker procedures in Tamil Nadu, Dr. E Babu commented saying “Keeping in mind the on-going pandemic and patient’s safety, the world’s smallest and lightest Pacemaker – MICRA Leadless Permanent Pacemaker was implanted within the right ventricle chamber of the patient’s heart through a catheter. Unlike the conventional pacemaker which is larger in size with a long lead and requires a longer patient recovery time, the MICRA Leadless Permanent Pacemaker is MRI compatible, weighs less than 2 grams and has a longevity usage of 12 years. This 30 minute Pacemaker procedure also allowed the patient to continue taking his blood-thinner medication and was discharged within 24 hours.”
